Q. The basic defect of the Lucknow pact of 1916 between Muslim League and the Congress was that it was
(a) a pact between two parties seeking dominion status for India
(b) constitutional deal only without involving masses
(c) based on acceptance of separate electorates for muslim community
(d) opposed to foreign rule in India.
Ans: (c) based on acceptance of separate electorates for muslim community
Explanation: The basic defect of the Lucknow Pact of 1916 between the Muslim League and the Congress was based on the acceptance of separate electorates for the Muslim community.
The Lucknow Pact was a significant event in the Indian independence movement, as it brought together the Muslim League and the Indian National Congress to form a united front against British colonial rule. However, one of the major flaws of the pact was that it endorsed the principle of separate electorates for Muslims, which further deepened communal divisions in Indian politics. This provision allowed for the representation of Muslims through separate electorates, which meant that they would be elected by Muslim voters exclusively, rather than through joint electorates where all communities would participate together. This arrangement contributed to the growth of communal politics and hindered the development of a unified national movement.
